ISSN: 2360-7831

 International Journal of English Literature and Culture
 

International Journal of English Literature and Culture

Vol. 8(1), pp. 15-32, January, 2020

 ISSN: 2360-7831

DOI: 10.14662/IJELC2019.165

Research paper

Colonization of Africa by the European giants has both negative and positive implications. Even though many African countries claim to have gained independence, the sovereignty of these nations raises a lot of concerns. One area is language. To date, colonial languages play significant roles in the socio-economic development of these countries. In Ghana, English is the official language. As an official language, it is the language of the three arms of government- the executive, legislature and judiciary. The media, the fourth estate of government also uses English in its reportage. It is also the medium of instruction. As a medium of education, English is the language used to prepare students as the labor force of the country. Since English is the language used to prepare the labor force in the country, it has a direct consequence on the employment opportunities in the country. The research was conducted using qualitative and quantitative means to find the impact of English language on the employment of school graduates from various Ghanaian institutions. All the schools –basic, secondary and tertiary in the region were used. Information gathered was interpreted using tables. With the use of a questionnaire, interview and observation. Forty-five percent (45%) of tuition in Ghanaian schools go waste because of lack of understanding of students. The consequence of this is reflected in poor attitude to work, poor management, inadequate supervision and reduced general output among Ghanaian school graduates. This has a serious implication on the socio-economic lives of the people. 

Keywords: Colonization, official language, medium of instruction

Cite This Article As: Frimpong D (2020). Significance of the Use of English as a Medium of Instruction and Its Effects on Employment-In Ethnographic Perspective. Inter.  J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 8(1): 15-32